Two more Castleton State College student athletes have denied charges that they stole merchandize from a sporting goods store in Rutland Town.

Eric N. Cross, 19, of Morrisville and Zachary Howe, 28, of Westminster pleaded innocent in Rutland criminal court to misdemeanor charges of retail theft. Cross faces two theft charges while Howe is charged with a single count.

They are among six CSC students who have been charged with stealing from Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Students Brandon E. Boyle and George A. Busharis have already denied a felony charge of retail theft and four misdemeanor charges of retail theft respectively.

Two other students, Dominic S. Heller and Mark Comstock, have also been charged in the theft ring and have been cited into court at a later date.

All six are players on the CSC football or soccer teams. Two more unidentified students in the alleged theft ring have been suspended by the college from sports but not charged.

Vermont State Police said Cross, with the help of Boyle, who worked at the store, left the store on two occasions with merchandise that wasn’t paid for. The value of the items taken was $172.99, police said.

Police said Howe took merchandise from the store once, but the value of the goods was $304.93.